Ball plunger support



Feb. 25, 1930. I c. T. SMALL 1,748,086

BALL PLUNGER SUPPORT Filed Jan; 25, 1928 gl- Fi .2;

Inventor O. T. Small y At Patented Feb. 25,.19so

UNITED, STATES PATENT orries .CHESLEY T. SMALL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI BALL BLUNGER SUPPORT Application filed January 25, 1928. Serial No. 249,386.

machine in which'the plungers run on a track 2 I by, means of which they are raised to present thejcans supported thereon tothe operating mechanism of the machine. One form of machine with which'my" support is adapted to be used is that shown in application Serial I No.: 88,765, filed by me February 17, 1926.

slustrate one formqof ball plunger support made in accordance with my invention, Fig-' ure 1 is a vertical section; Figure 2 is atop ,plan' view of the detached cap nut; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the ball socket; and Figure tie a View on a reduced scale, partly in elevation and. partly in section, showing 7 the support in position on its operating track; The plunger 1 is provided with an internal- 1y threaded bore 2 at its lower end to receive the threaded stems 3 of a ball socket a.

Formed-in the periphery of the ball socket are holes 5 which may be engaged by a wrench a bar or spanner to rotate the socket and thus accurately adjust it vertically with relation to the plunger, The socket is held in position after adjustment by a lock nut 6 on its stem, andthe lower end of the plunger is preferably provided with a hexagonal portion 7 to be engaged by a wrench when the lock nut is tightened to prevent torsional strain.

i .Formed in the socket 4 is a ball chamber 80f a diameter to receive the supporting ball 9 and of sufficient depth to allow substantial vertical movement of the ball. Situated in an extension 10 of the chamber 8 is a coil spring 11' bearing on the top of the ball 9 and nor mally holding it against a retaining lip 12 on the cap nut 13. This nut is threaded on a reduced portion 14 of the socket 4: and has holes 15 in its periphery for engagement with a wrench bar or spanner for screwing it into position. p p

In Figure .4: the supportis shown as hearing on a track 16 secured in an oil pan l7 like that shown in my prior application above referred to. The stem 3 is also provided with a central passage 18 and the plunger with a similarpassage 19 for the reception of a wick to convey oil from the pan to the plunger hearing, as described in my said prior application.

My construction not only provides a simple and strong support in which-a defective ball may be readily replaced but the use of the spring to hold the ball against its seat is highly advantageous to the action of the device. It not only supportsthe ball in such a manner that it is not liable to become jammed in In the accompanying drawings, which il-L the socket, but provides a cushioning eflect to lessen shocks and to compensate for varia tion in the height of the can operated upon.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plunger, of a ball socket provided with a spindle threaded into said plunger, a lock nut for holding the spindle I in adjusted position, a ball in said socket, a spring interposed between said socket and ball, and a cap nut threaded on said socket for holding the ball in position.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plunger provided at its lower end with an internally threaded bore, of a spindle having threaded engagement with said bore, a lock nut on said spindle, an enlargedhead on said spindle provided with a ball chamber having an extension forming a spring seat, a ball in said chamber, a spring in said extension between said seat and ball, and a threaded cap on said head engaging the ball to hold it in the chamber. v

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature, this 21st day of January, 1928.

CHESLEY T. SMALL. 

